SWRK 203Dr. Hardina
Spring, 2008
COURSE SCHEDULE
Qualitative Social Work Research Social Work 261
ACTIVITIES
WEEK 1
1/21 / No Class / Martin Luther King Day
WEEK 2 1/28 / Introduction to course / Padgett, Chapter 1 / Audio clip – BBC
Female Bouncers
WEEK 3
Feb 4 / The qualitative researcher; ethics / Padgett, Chapter 2- 4
Drisko, J. (2001). Consent handout. Retrieved on Jan. 17, 2008, from:
/ Audio clip – National Public Radio (Jan. 16, 2008). Researcher studies gangs by leading one.
WEEK 4 Feb. 11 / Approaches to Qualitative Research: / Creswell, The Five Traditions. Chapters 3 & 4
On electronic reserve at:
Brayton, J. (1997). What makes feminist research feminist?
Retrieved on January 16, 2008, from / Exercise on differentiating among qualitative approaches
WEEK 5 / President’s Day / No CLASS
WEEK 6
Feb. 25 / Ethnography;
Entry & sampling / Padgett, Chapter 5
Berg, B. (1995). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. Chapter 5, Ethnographic field strategies. On electronic reserve at: / Exercise on gaining entry
Assignment #1 Due: Article Deconstruction
WEEK/ Date / TOPIC / READING ASSIGNMENTS / DUE DATES &
ACTIVITIES
WEEK 8
March 3 / Observation / Merriman, S. (1998). Qualitative research and case study application in education. Chapter 5, Being a careful observer. On electronic reserve at: / Exercise on observation
WEEK 9
March 10 / Interviewing / Padgett, Chapter 6
Rubin & Rubin, Qualitative interviewing, Chapter 7, Designing main questions and probes
Marczak, M., & Sewell, M. (n.d.). Using focus groups for evaluation. Retrieved on January 16, 2008, from
/ Exercise on interviewing
Assignment #2 Due: Observation
March 17 / Spring Break / NO CLASS
WEEK 10
March 24 / Content Analysis / Hseih, H., & Shannon, S. (2005),
Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. (2005). Qualitative Health Research, 15 (9), 1277-1288. Download directly from the library webpage:
Select “Articles & Databases”; Select Academic Premier. Enter author names or title into Search and click on the link to open.
Mayering, P. (2000). Qualitative content analysis. Forum: Qualitative social research, 1(2). Retrieved on January 14, 2008, from / Exercise on content analysis
Assignment #3 Due: Interview Guide
Week
11
March 31 / Narrative Methods & Case Studies / Moen, T. (2006). Reflections on the narrative research approach. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 5(4). Retrieved on January 14, 2008 from:
Greenwood, D., & Lowenthal, D. (2005). Case study as a means of researching social work and improving practitioner education. Journal of Social Work Practice, 19, 181-193.
Ly, Y., DeFraun, J., Trout, S., & Lu, K. (2007). Experiences of Chinese families affected by AIS via blood transfusions: An exploratory case study. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 38, 605-625.
Both articleson electronic reserve at:
/ Exercise: Analyzing patterns in narrative accounts.
Group meeting to choose interview guide for final assignments
WEEK/ Date / TOPIC / READING ASSIGNMENTS / DUE DATES &
ACTIVITIES
Week 12
April 7 / Participatory Action Research / Alvarez, A., & Gutierrez, L. (2001). Choosing to do participatory research: An example and issues of fit to consider. Journal of Community Practice, 9 (1), 1-20.
Gonzalez, E., et al. (2007). Participatory action research for environmental health: Encountering Freire in the urban barrio. Journal of Urban Affairs, 29, 77-100.
Both articles on electronic reserve at: / Exercise on using group approaches to plan community-based research
Class time to conduct interviews
Week 13
April 14 / Data management & analysis / Padgett, Chapter 7
Kerlin, B. (n.d.). Chapter 6, Coding strategies. Retrieved on January 17, 2008 from:
/ Exercise on data analysis
Assignment #4 Due: Transcription
Week 14
April 21 / Rigor & Trustworthi-ness / Padgett, Chapter 8 / Exercise on establishing trustworthiness
Week 15
April 28 / Writing up the qualitative study: / Padgett, Chapter 9 & Appendix B
Parada, H., Barnoff, L., & Coleman, B. (2007). Negotiating “professional agency”: Social work and decision-making within the Ontario child welfare system. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, XXXIV (4), 35-56. / Exercise on report writing
Week 16
May 5 / Blending qualitative and quantitative methods in research / Padgett, Chapter 10 / Assignment # 5 Report due on interviewdata
Final Exam – May 14th